Homeless night cafe visits rise to 21,148
Some 2,022 individuals used the service, which is provided by Merchants Quay Ireland.
In only its second full year, the night cafe, in Dublin city centre, had 21,148 actual visits, where otherwise the person would have slept rough.
A senior manager at the centre said that some nights people were turned away if the cafe was full.
In 2015, the night cafe had 18,375 actual visits, a few thousand lower than last year, although staff at MQI said that the cafe was not running at full capacity in the opening months of 2015.
Brenda Kane, project manager at MQI, said that while there were some “economically homeless” clients, including some in education and employment, the typical person who stays at the cafe was young, male, Irish and dealing with alcoholism, drug use, or mental health issues.
The night cafe has a maximum capacity of 70 people per night, with clients sleeping on mats on the floor. Typically, in 2016, 60 people per night stayed at the cafe, up from an average of 47 per night the previous year, and last year’s occupancy rate has continued into the first month of 2017.
Of those who use the night cafe, 82% are male, 63% are Irish, while 22% are from other EU countries, and 15% are from outside the EU.
The most prevalent age group is between 25 and 34; 17% of male clients are aged between 25 and 29 and 18% of male clients are aged 30 to 34.
However, 12% are aged under 24 and 11% are aged over 50.
Ms Kane said there was “a significant number of young people and older clients” using the cafe.
Two case managers dealt with 1,051 clients each last year, primarily offering advice and information on accommodation options, as well as helping with medical and clinical interventions.
There were also regular visitors. Ms Kane said: “On average, in 2016, each month we had 31 top presenting clients — just under half would be regular clients.”
Referrals are made via the Housing First intake team or the freephone number that applies across the Dublin area and Ms Kane said: “There would be nights when we would have to decline access, because we are full.”
People can also be denied access, if they pose a threat to themselves or to others, she added.
Shortly after the night cafe opened, in early 2015, the Irish Examiner reported that 812 people had used the service in just two months. Brenda Kane said the “ultimate aim” is that the night cafe will no longer be needed.
Last December, MQI issued a statement: “The MQI Night Café is not the solution to homelessness and rough sleeping; the real solutions lie in the provision of appropriate emergency accommodation and adequate move-on housing options.
“However, the MQI Night Café continues to perform a vital function for people unable to access emergency accommodation and whose only other option would be to sleep on the streets.”
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